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Nestled amid shops, restaurants, and movie theaters, Opera Plaza Deli & Taqueria is as much grocery store as it is lunch hot spot. Through the windows you can see fully stocked shelves and coolers along with a few tables and chairs, where customers unwrap tacos filled with guac, beans, and meat or dig into plates of Mexican-style steak and fajitas. Traditional dishes include bistec ranchero and pork tamales, but there are also philly cheesesteaks, avocado-topped burgers, and other familiar plates. The deli serves breakfast, too—huevos con chorizo, huevos rancheros, and huevos con jamon.

Comida Yucatan
The cuisine of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula diverges a bit from the rest of the country. The food not only boasts influences from the Mexican mainland, but also from the Mayan culture, the coastal Caribbean cultures, and even some European cultures. The result: recipes such as the carne desmenuzada—shredded beef with black bean puree—and relleno blanco with roasted chicken in white sauce. Besides cooking these peninsular staples, the chefs at Comida Yucatan also crank out classic Mexican favorites, such as chicken tamales in banana leaves, and American-style burgers and chicken wings.

For tasty Mexican fare, San Francisco's Taqueria La Paz is hard to top.
The menu doesn't include any low-fat items, so set aside some extra calories for your visit.
Eat out with the little ones at Taqueria La Paz, and don't waste time scurrying for a sitter.
There's no need to winnow the guest list for a night out at Taqueria La Paz — the restaurant has tons of space for big parties.
Taqueria La Paz doesn't take reservations, so on busy nights you may have to wait a bit.
Put the suit away when heading to Taqueria La Paz — dress is casual, as are the vibes.
Or, take your food to-go.
You can leave your car curbside with nearby street parking.
With prices generally staying under $15, you can easily afford to treat a pal or a data at Taqueria La Paz.

Colibri Mexican Bistro: A User’s Guide
Fresh Mexican Cuisine | Local Ingredients | 1900s Cantina | Tapas-Style Plates | 300+ Tequilas
Sample Menu
Starter: guacamole prepared tableside to your spice specifications
Entree: chicken with mole poblano made of chilies, nuts, and chocolate
Dessert: churros filled with caramel cream and served with ice cream
What to Drink: Zagat reviewers rave about the Macho Margarita, which blends sweet and spicy thanks to the addition of muddled jalapeños.
Where to Sit: Try to land one of the plush booths and avoid the tables near the open kitchen—a high-traffic zone.
While You’re Waiting: Head to the bar area and watch the 1940s Latin film clips playing on the TVs.
The Vibe: Classic Spanish paintings adorn gold and red walls, and uniquely shaped tequila bottles punctuate a space that’s reminiscent of Mexico City restaurants in the early 1900s.
Vocab Lesson
Mole: there are many regional varieties of this rich sauce, but chilies, spices, and mexican chocolate are the most common ingredients. It’s typically served atop poultry or pork.
Colibri: Spanish for "hummingbird."
How to Get There: Colibri's location in the heart of the Theatre District means traffic and parking can be problematic. However, the Powell Street BART Station is just a couple blocks away.

Groupon Guide

Fairly or not, Mexican food is married in the public imagination to inexpensive taquerias and hangover cures. Thankfully, the Bay Area’s large Latino population means that upscale Mexican dining is increasingly varied and plentiful, with enough options to satisfy even high-end diners.
Perhaps the fanciest thing to ever open on Divisadero Street, La Urbana is an upscale cantina straight out of Mexico City. Its striking interior, full of murals and gorgeous tile work, complements the mezcal-heavy cocktail list and inviting menu that includes grilled octopus, pork carnitas and red snapper with huitlacoche, the Mexican equivalent of European truffles. The place is always hopping, but if the wait’s absurd, duck into the adjacent space, El Garaje, and snag a bottle of beer while you eye an open table.
Many San Franciscans opt for Papalote, a mid-scale eatery that can sometimes feel like a nondescript chain. Thankfully, their burritos are among the city’s best, and Papalote’s pricey tacos, which can run up to two for $10, certainly qualifies as upscale Mexican food. Then again, when you’re paying for wonderfully prepared soyrizo, standout mole or the incredibly flavorful pechuga al achiote chicken, it’s easy to understand why Papalote is a Mission favorite.
Nopalito, with two locations in the city, has also recently come into its own. Each location sports a unique menu, but both fuse traditional Mexican cuisine with the California ethos of freshness. Upscale though it may be in spirit, the entrées generally keep below the $19 threshold, making both Nopalito outposts a relative bargain.
Healthy and environmentally-conscious diners can also hop over to Gracias Madre, the all organic vegan Mexican food eatery run under the Café Gratitude umbrella. Not only can you find tasty meat-free options on the menu, some of the entrées are downright delicious. And perhaps best of all: Gracias Madre has a full liquor license.